Curious to see the replies. My mother's motto was, "Waste not, want not." She used/canned everything, but she threw away the brussel sprout stems. Curious to see if someone uses them. My gut says that they would be too woody for use, but I really don't know.

I always buy sprouts this way as they are just so tasty straight off the stem. I can't say I have eaten or used the stem as I think it would be too woody and difficult to chew through. It does not get wasted though, I tie the stem up in the chicken run for the birds. It keeps them entertained as it swings about. They love picking the pieces off it. They don't seem to get through the stem though